First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

What's a "Shelfie"? The Most Unselfish of Selfies!

Posted in: Archive

Last week we launched our annual Magic of Storytelling campaign with Disney. This year, we're celebrating Disney's 75 millionth book donation to First Book! Through March 31, 2020, everyone can get in on the fun of sharing the magic of storytelling with the educators & kids we serve! Join our mission to provide books t...

In Their Own Voices - What Makes a Book Work for Young People

Posted in: Our Partners

2nd Annual First Book Title Raves

Posted in: Focus on First Book

We've released our second annual "First Book Title Raves," a comprehensive list of 15 titles published in 2019 that earned recognition from First Book's network of over 475,000 educators who serve kids in need. This list is curated based on five-star educator reviews on the First Book Marketplace that cite the greatest...

The Gift of Reading

Posted in: Archive

Every year during the holidays, First Book donors give gifts in honor of, or in memory of, a special reader in their life. We are lucky enough to be a part of that special holiday gift. To spread the holiday joy, we are sharing a few of the holiday messages sent with donations made this year: "Merry Christmas Mom, Your...

Read with Your Head & Your Heart

Posted in: Impact Stories, First Book Communit Highlight

This blog is a guest post by First Book community educator, April Insley. I believe you read with your head and with your heart. As a library media specialist, I know there's a book for every one of my students that will help them fall in love with reading. It just takes find the right book to spark that connection. Wh...

When Holidays Aren't Happy for Everyone

Posted in: For Educators, Our Partners

This post is written by guest blogger, Maria Collins, vice president of the New York Life Foundation For many, the holiday season can be a wonderful time of year filled with celebrations and family gatherings, time spent reminiscing about all the joy-filled moments that took place over the past year and all the wonderf...

I'm Teary Eyed Thinking About It... Stories of the Power of Giving

Posted in: Impact Stories

This post is written by guest blogger, Joyce Victor, First Book Member, Owens Primary School, CA I feel teary eyed thinking about giving new books from First Book to my kids, and I know you feel the same way. Whenever I give new books to the kindergarten students at Owens Primary, they can't believe it. They’re opening...

How to Give Books to Kids in Need this Holiday

Posted in: Focus on First Book

If you're like us here at First Book, you feel there is no better holiday present for a child than a book. As the holiday season approaches, we want you to know about the many ways you can fill a bookshelf or provide a classroom with much-needed learning resources. Here's a few ways you can support our mission to provi...

First Book Calls on Its Community of Educators to Promote Respect and Empathy

Posted in: Focus on First Book, For Educators

A lack of respect and empathy increases the possibility for disputes to occur, challenging a child’s ability to step into the shoes of another person and experience the world through that perspective. At First Book, we recognize educators require support to eliminate educational barriers like these that prevent kids fr...

Creative Ways to Use Plush Toys in the Classroom

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Plush Toys are much more than cute classroom decorations. They can be powerful tools for creating spaces where kids are excited and motivated to read and learn! The First Book Marketplace is home to a large selection of educational resources available at affordable prices to the members of our Network. We strive to add...